1. The new government wants to look purposeful and forward-moving, but, at the same time, keep Tony Abbott hovering above the fray

The Coalition opened its parliamentary life in government in sure-footed fashion, and set the political agenda on its chosen themes – the repeals of the carbon price and the mining tax, and the foray on raising the debt ceiling. The prime minister, who had been rationing his public appearances in the weeks between the September election victory and the kick-off of the 44th parliament, stepped it up a notch – there was parliament of course, an all-in press conference, a major television interview and a couple of extended radio interviews.

But Abbott was speaking softly, literally and figuratively – keeping it all very low key at the dispatch box, keeping the soundbites focused on the hip pocket of voters rather than tearing aggressively into the opponents. (Introducing the carbon price repeal, the Abbott soundbite was this is “our bill to reduce your bills.”) Treasurer Joe Hockey compensated for Abbott’s sotto voce by carrying much of the necessary puff, bluster and staged contention of the opening week. Hockey’s first question time as treasurer was reminiscent of Peter Costello, (who was of course, reminiscent of Paul Keating.) And so politics goes.

2. The government moved to reimpose the strictures of conventional majority government – but learned that it doesn’t control the agenda quite as much as it thought it could

The new Abbott government tweaked the standing orders in the House of Representatives to increase the powers of the new speaker, Bronwyn Bishop, and to limit opportunities for Labor and the cross bench to disrupt and hijack the daily agenda. The Coalition was clearly intent on doing whatever it could to ensure it didn’t face the parliament and the bruising politics it inflicted on the former Gillard government. Being in government, after all, is supposed to have some benefits, like being able to hear yourself think.

However (yes, you sensed that coming didn’t you?), my impression of the first week is the government didn’t, perhaps, feel quite as much in control as it wanted to feel. Let me explain what I mean. Highly effective oppositions can set the daily agenda. When it all goes right in opposition, when the magic dust is sprinkled, you are in the "all care, no responsibility" position.

Government is much more complicated: events clutter the message, you are in the all responsibility position: lots of incoming, lots of things outside your control, opponents redirecting and interrupting, senates getting all uppity and amending legislation. Oppositions, when they win elections, have to re-learn what it feels like to be in government: weighted with responsibility, wondering what lurks around the corner. The lived experience of government, strange as this might sound, is a daily confrontation with the limits of your power. There was something of that step change in the atmosphere in Canberra this week.

3. Labor is inclined to use the parliamentary tactics the Coalition used against them, but with the volume turned down

Labor could have spent the first week of parliament in a funk curled up in a bean bag. It would not have been the first time in history an opposition sulked at the prospect of becoming an opposition. There was some sulking of course, but the sulk didn’t seem entirely disabling. Labor opened the new parliament by dishing up a bit of interference for the Coalition – giving the new government a taste of some the tactics Tony Abbott had run against them when in government. There wasn’t a lot of shouting, Bill Shorten, like Abbott, had his volume largely down.

But there was disruption. Will it continue? Who knows. Does it signal an ongoing disposition? Too early to say. It does confirm, at a minimum, Labor is inclined to get on with the business of playing opposition politics rather than reaching for the smelling salts and chasing the ghosts of governments past.

4. Things change, and change quickly

Let’s call our fourth talking point “Scott Morrison, a case study”. The immigration minister’s hardline stance against asylum seekers doubtless has strong public support among many Australian voters. Those voters probably don’t care that Morrison seems intent since the election on becoming a parody of himself. But I feel quite certain that a number of other voters have noticed Morrison looking rather silly in his public appearances. Refusing to answer questions can work, so long at it works. So far, it’s not working all that well. Scott Morrison was one of the Coalition’s most effective attack dogs in opposition – one of the bright stars in the Liberal firmament. Being the focus of the attack, is, of course, much less fun.

5. Line of the parliamentary week

I think we should give that to Joe Hockey, for his touch of droll commentary on the friskiness of the ALP on the first day of the 44th parliament. “Today is your best day in opposition,” he noted by way of homily.